Don't allow jowls, sagging neck skin, and deep wrinkles to send the wrong message about your vitality. An expertly performed facelift can take years off your appearance, helping others see the confident man you are.

Initial Recovery Time: 10 days

Final Results: 6 months

Getting older doesn’t have to mean looking older

You can do a lot to maintain a youthful, fit appearance as the years go by: eat well, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. Unfortunately, you have less control over how your face ages, particularly if you’re experiencing sagging skin, jowling, and deep creases around the cheeks, nose and mouth. Blame genetics, blame gravity, but don’t live with unwanted signs of aging when there’s something you can do about it.

Facelift surgery is the most effective solution to address sagging tissues on the lower face and restore a firmer, smoother and more refined jawline.

Am I a good candidate for a facelift?

A facelift addresses sagging tissues and deep creases on the mid to lower face and neck to restore a more refreshed, vibrant appearance. If you agree with the following, you may be a good candidate for facelift surgery:

You have heavy jowls or prominent folds around the nose and mouth

Sagging, loose skin hangs underneath your chin

You feel you look older than your actual age

You are a non-smoker

About the facelift procedure for men

Board certified plastic surgeon and 4x Richmond Top Doc Dr. Stephen Chen has been performing male facelifts for more than a decade. He uses subtle surgical techniques that preserve your naturally thicker skin and masculine facial structure, refining your features without over-tightening the skin. The result? You look like you, only better rested and years younger.

I could not recommend Dr. Chen more highly. He is a skilled and knowledgeable surgeon. He had a vision of what my end result would look like and explained it to me clearly. The surgical suite and medical staff were all fantastic. Nothing was rushed, every question was answered.-Actual Patient of Dr. Chen

What to expect with facelift surgery

Dr. Chen works with highly trained and qualified anesthesiologists and operating room staff who are experienced in the unique needs of plastic surgery patients.

Surgery involves several incisions, located in the natural creases around the ears, behind the hairline, and/or under the chin. Through these incisions, Dr. Chen separates the skin from the underlying facial tissues, lifts and repositions these tissues, and then places the skin back over the lifted tissues, removing any excess to eliminate sagging. This technique allows him to achieve a naturally firmer, smoother skin appearance while avoiding a “pulled” look.

After surgery, bandages will be placed around your forehead, chin and ears, and you will be able to go home shortly after the procedure to continue your recovery.

Recovery & downtime after a facelift

Pain is typically not an issue after facelift surgery, although Dr. Chen will prescribe pain medications to keep you comfortable after your procedure. Feelings of tightness, pressure and tenderness are common for the first several weeks; Tylenol should suffice to enhance comfort after 3 days or so. Initially, you will have to sleep on your back, and only light activities are allowed for the first 2 to 3 weeks. Bandages are removed within a few days after surgery.

While most patients are able to return to a desk job within 1 week or so of a facelift, you may not feel ready to go out in public until post-op bruising and swelling are less conspicuous—typically by the 2 week mark. Lifting, straining, and strenuous exercise are off-limits for 2 to 3 weeks.

Keeping your facelift private

Most of Dr. Chen’s facelift patients would rather keep their surgery private, especially men with busy professional lives. By choosing a qualified plastic surgeon with considerable experience in male facelifts, you can feel confident that your results will not look like surgery. Additionally, you can keep your facelift under wraps by scheduling a 2 to 3-week vacation beginning the day before surgery. Post-operative bruising and swelling will be virtually undetectable by others within this time range, and you can return to work looking much better refreshed—exactly what people would expect after a leisurely vacation.

Making sure your facelift results last

A facelift is meant to last. There’s no stopping the natural aging process, but a facelift will help “reset” the clock: you’ll continue to look years younger than your actual age as the years pass. You can keep your results looking their best by adopting a good skin care regime, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding unnecessary sun exposure.